To Dethrone a King!

How does one go about moving onto the next generation when the past is still a ominous spectre. 


In her 60th year as Queen, no-one would expect Elizabeth II to bow down and let Charles take the throne. In as many ways, no-one would expect Kenny Dalglish to easily be removed from his position as Manager of Liverpool Football Club. 


The recent furore surrounding his position has seemingly left the King in a perilous position, off on his holidays without knowing for sure whether he'll have a job when he comes back. 


Kenny came back of his cruise ship last January and led us on a merry dance, where we were the 3rd best team in the league upon his return to the throne. Liverpool were playing great, attacking football, getting the likes of the once maligned Maxi Rodriguez playing like the season Argentine international that he is. He steadied the ship and much more in those 5 months before his permanent return. 


Since his 2nd coming was finalised and made long term, Kenny and the club has left a lot to be desired. Plenty has been said about his transfers, the Suarez Case, tactics, and so on, so I will concentrate on where it has left us. 


We currently find ourselves at a cross roads. 


No CEO, No Director of Football, No decision on the stadium, Kenny Dalglish....


Kenny's position is not the most pressing concern at the club at this time and given the coverage that has received in recent days, it says a lot about the state of the club at this time.

A CEO running things from Anfield is required. Someone who knows football, with the relevant experience to take on the day to day operations of the club is imperative. Brian Barwick would be my choice, given his FA experience and his time in the media. Ian Ayre has shown himself to be an excellent commercial man, and should return to his former position

A DoF who can develop a strategy as to how we will return to the upper echelons of English and European football is a must. Someone who can organise the clubs scouting, recruitment, playing philosophy who can remain when managers come and go. Txiki Begiristain formerly of Barcelona has been linked, someone of his ilk and clout, after the Comolli era would be welcome.

The Stadium, the single biggest decision that will influence our future. Arsenal and Man Utd close to £100m in matchday revenue a season, over double what LFC get at Anfield, the longer this goes on, the further we'll fall behind. Until a decision is made, we're at standstill.

Redevelop Anfield, retain the history and our identity, at a said to be lower cost. Build a new stadium, move on and be thought of as a modern, forward thinking club but at a cost of £300-500m. Personally I think the stadium determines how long FSG remain owners, if they can't find a cost effective solution, I would not be surprised to see us change hands once again.

Then to Kenny Dalglish, the living legend, the embodiment of all that is good at Liverpool Football Club. However, to simply give up on the League after losing to Arsenal at Anfield in March, our general form in 2012, our results all season at Anfield.

The lack of flexibility in tactics, the bringing through of youngsters, the speed of thought and movement all apparent last season we're clearly missing, which makes me wonder whether Kenny Dalglish is the long term answer.

However the names linked as a replacement don't fill me with hope. No doubt Roberto Martinez's achievements with Wigan are fantastic, Brendan Rodgers and Paul Lambert have been refreshing in their management of promoted teams, but none of the above are what is required. Keeping Mr Dalglish would be a better option than the 3 suggested.

If FSG were to decide to replace Kenny Dalglish, managers of greater clout and gravitas are required. Fabio Capello or Louis Van Gaal could be short term answers, proven winners at club level. Long term the likes of Joachim Loew, Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, Andre Villas-Boas, Laurent Blanc are younger ambitious managers who could thrive under the challenge of returning us to our former glories.

Whatever FSG decide with regards to Kenny Dalglish, he or whoever they replace him with need to have foundations of leadership above them to move the club forward.